marcha
/MAR-chah/
walk
Marcha as the act of walking or stride.
📝 In Action
La marcha del ejército era lenta y coordinada.
A2The army's walk/pace was slow and coordinated.
Después de un largo día, regresamos a casa en marcha rápida.
B1After a long day, we returned home at a quick pace.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Tip
Remember that 'marcha' is always feminine, even though it ends in 'a'. Use 'la marcha'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Ponerse en marcha'
This phrase is super useful for starting any kind of journey or action, not just walking. You can use it when a plan begins or a machine starts up.
In mechanics, marcha refers to a gear.
📝 In Action
El coche no arranca si no pones la primera marcha.
A2The car won't start if you don't put it in first gear.
Tuvo que meter la quinta marcha para adelantar al camión.
B1He had to put it in fifth gear to pass the truck.
💡 Grammar Points
Naming Gears
Spanish names gears using ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.). Primera marcha, segunda marcha, tercera marcha, etc.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Gear' and 'Wheel'
Mistake: "Using 'rueda' for gear."
Correction: Use 'marcha' or sometimes 'engranaje' for gear mechanism. 'Rueda' means wheel.
Marcha can mean the operation or functioning of a system or project.
marcha(noun)
operation
?system or project
,functioning
?how something is working
progress
?development of a plan
📝 In Action
El plan de construcción ya está en marcha.
B1The construction plan is already underway/operational.
Necesitamos garantizar la buena marcha del negocio.
C1We need to guarantee the smooth running/operation of the business.
⭐ Usage Tips
Business Spanish
The phrase 'la buena marcha' (good operation/smooth running) is frequently heard in business meetings and formal reports.
A public demonstration or protest is often called a marcha.
marcha(noun)
protest
?public demonstration
,demonstration
?public gathering
rally
?political gathering
📝 In Action
Miles de personas asistieron a la marcha por el clima.
B2Thousands of people attended the climate protest.
La policía desvió el tráfico debido a la marcha de estudiantes.
C1The police diverted traffic due to the student demonstration.
⭐ Usage Tips
News Context
When reading the news, 'marcha' nearly always refers to a public, often political, demonstration or movement.
Marcha is a common term used to refer to nightlife or going out.
📝 In Action
Este barrio tiene mucha marcha, siempre hay bares abiertos.
B2This neighborhood has a lot of nightlife/buzz, there are always bars open.
Nos fuimos de marcha hasta las tres de la mañana.
C1We went out partying until three in the morning.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Slang (Spain)
This informal meaning is almost exclusively used in Spain. If you use 'Vamos de marcha' in Mexico, people might think you are going on a serious walk!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: marcha
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'marcha' is most likely being used in the sentence: 'Pusimos la música en marcha y el baile empezó.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'marcha' and 'caminata'?
'Marcha' usually refers to the speed, pace, or the movement itself (like a military march or a car's gear). 'Caminata' specifically means a long walk or a hike for pleasure or exercise.
How do I say 'reverse gear'?
The specific phrase is 'marcha atrás' (literally, backward movement or gear). You would typically say 'meter la marcha atrás' to put the car in reverse.